US O’Gara acquires armored vehicle unit of European defence giant BAE

The O’Gara Group Inc, the US provider of security, safety and defence products and services, said it had signed a definitive agreement for the purchase of BAE Systems Commercial Armored Vehicles LLC.

The target business is currently part of BAE Systems Survivability Systems LLC, a unit of UK-based defence contractor BAE Systems Plc (LON:BA). O’Gara did not volunteer any information on financial terms. It expects to finalise the acquisition during the current quarter provided that standard conditions are met.

BAE Systems Commercial Armored Vehicles is engaged in the design and integration of armour systems for military and commercial vehicles. The Ohio-based company also manufactures transparent armour for commercial and military applications.

A successful outcome will mark the reunion of O’Gara’s founders with the business that started under the name O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company. It was sold in 2001 to Armor Holdings Inc, which was in turn acquired by BAE Systems in 2007. O’Gara, which currently operates vehicle armouring facilities in San Antonio, Texas, and Fairfield, Ohio, said that the purchase would strengthen its position among US suppliers to the armoured vehicles market.

Chief executive Wilfred T O’Gara stated that the deal would help his company sustain the growth of its commercial armouring business and would expand its presence in the transparent armour market. The acquisition will strengthen O’Gara position and enhance its agility in the commercial segment of the vehicle armouring market, he added.